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Not an Answer, but an Invitation
January
18, 2003 Homily
Fr. George Smiga
John
1:35-42
"Teacher, where are you staying? " "Come and
see."
The two
disciples in today's gospel ask a simple, straight -forward
question: "Teacher, where are you staying?" An answer
to this question could be given in a moment, in a couple of
words, but Jesus does not provide them. Instead he says, "Come
and see." The disciples come to Jesus with a question;
he responds with an invitation. Instead of responding in words,
he offers an opportunity for the disciples to travel with
him, to walk with him, and perhaps to find what they are searching
for.
I do not
know how frustrating it might have been for the disciples
not to have their question answered, but it is very instructive
for us. Because what Jesus is revealing in this short encounter
with the two disciples, is the basic pattern by which God
deals with humanity, the way that God interacts with us in
our lives.
We come
to God with questions. God gives us invitations. The questions
are many and can be drawn from a number of different circumstances.
Why do the innocent suffer? Why is our world so violent? Why
is someone that I love sick? Why can't I find a job? Why do
our political and religious leaders fail us? How can I protect
my family? Why am I so depressed and lonely? Where can I look
for hope? Questions, real questions, that we place before
God. But God doesn't answer them. God simply says, "Come
and see; come follow me."
How much
easier it would be if God would simply explain things to us,
if God would tell us what is going to happen, if God would
tell us what we want to know. But God does not tell us. God
says, "Come and see." God responds in this way because
on the deepest level, God knows that what we really need,
what our life really requires, is not information, but trust.
God knows that we could never comprehend, we could never absorb
the mysteries through which God is building the kingdom. God
understands that we could never take in all the twists and
turns by which God is saving us. So instead of trying to reveal
this information to our limited minds, God asks us to trust.
God says, "Come and see." Live moment to moment,
walk day to day, until gradually you begin to recognize the
plan that is unfolding before your eyes. God invites us to
trust, to believe that God is in charge, that there is a plan
and that that plan will eventually lead us to life.
The power
of this truth is expressed beautifully in a passage from John
Henry Cardinal Newman, which I'd like to share with you this
morning.
Newman says, "I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection
between persons. God has not created me for nothing. I shall
do good. I shall do God's work. I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it-if
I do but keep God's commandments. Therefore, I will trust
God, whatever, wherever I am. I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may be a service, in perplexity,
my perplexity may be of service. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow
may serve God's kingdom. God does nothing in vain. God has
a plan. God may take away my friends, throw me among strangers,
make me feel desolate, make my spirit sink, hide my future
from me. Still God has a plan and I will trust the One who
guides me."
We come
to God with questions, God responds with invitations. We come
looking for information, God invites us to trust. This is
the challenge for every believer: to accept God as trustworthy.
For we are asked not to be frustrated when instead of giving
us an answer, God invites us to "Come and see,"
when God invites us to walk for awhile until the truth emerges.
For those of us who know our God, that invitation is not impossible.
For as soon as we take up the journey, as soon as we begin
to follow, it becomes clear that we will not travel alone.
Step by step, day by day, God will walk with us until in time
we come to a place where every question is answered and where
all goodness comes to light.
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